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Lovell J. Callister, 88

Lovell J. Callister, 88, of Blackfoot, passed away Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at his home.
Lovell was born August 21, 1923 in Moreland to Orson Pratt and Annie Francella Jones Callister. He attended Groveland Elementary and graduated from Blackfoot High School.
He has lived in the Blackfoot area most of his life, living a few years in Merced, Calif. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow for two years and then transferred to Utah State, earning a degree in Ag Economics.
He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, mostly in China and the VietNam area. While in the military he earned the rank of captain and flew P-38’s. He was a member of the 449th Fighter Squadron, known as the Flying Tigers. His military service took him on flights completely around the world.
On May 2, 1947 he married Lois Ann Sowers in Blackfoot. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.
Lovell was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and he has served in the Young Men’s programs, as stake sports director, and coached Young Men’s teams for many years. He served as bishop of the Rose 1st Ward for over five years, starting in 1978.
He served on the Blackfoot School Board. He was a director on the Board of the Land-o-Lakes/Bingham Co-op. He was a member of the Snake River Dairyman’s Association.
Lovell worked at the INEL Site for Phillips Petroleum as a health physicist. He received the Carnegie Institute of Heroism medal for being one of the first health physicist to enter the reactor at the site when it blew up to see if anyone was alive.
He also farmed and was a dairyman most of his life. He served as secretary-ditch rider of the Weggland Lateral Canal.
He loved his dairy cows, fishing, hunting and really enjoyed watching his family participate in sports. One year, he was awarded “Fan of the Year” for attending every game.
He is survived by his wife, Lois of Blackfoot; children Martha (Steve) Mecham of Rose, Vicki (Dave) Madsen of Syracuse, Utah; Rex (Sheryle) Callister of Rose, Janie (Curtis) Jackson of Blackfoot, 20 grandchildren and 51 great-grandchildren, with three more on the way.
He was preceded in death by his sons, Kenneth Lovell and Ned Orson Callister; daughter, Amy Sue Callister; his parents; five brothers, Orson, Eldon, Rulon, Hyrum and Marion and two sisters, Francella Hale and Lila Jolley.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 30, 2012 at the Blackfoot Stake Center, 1650 Highland Drive, Blackfoot.
The family will meet with friends and family from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012 in Blackfoot at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Ave, and again on Monday for one hour prior to service at the church.
Internment will be in the Groveland Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the American Legion Stewart Hoover Post #23.
Condolences may be sent to the family at condolences@hawkerfuneralhome.com.